Nigeria’s Leadership Crisis Explained: Idealism, Realism, and Constructivism in Power and Politics

 

Introduction

Politics isn’t just about elections, laws, or who occupies Aso Rock; it’s about power, principles, and perception. Political theory gives us the lenses to decode Nigeria’s complex political drama: why leaders make certain choices, why voters cling to old loyalties, and why some reforms crash before takeoff.

The three big theories, which include realism, idealism, and constructivism, offer roadmaps for understanding Nigeria’s journey. Realism exposes the raw power struggles behind the scenes; idealism reflects the dreams of reformers and voters who want politics to serve morality; and constructivism reveals how our shared stories and identities can build or break a nation.

Whether you’re a student of politics, a journalist, or just a frustrated voter trying to make sense of the chaos, these frameworks show that Nigeria’s future isn’t pre-written; it’s being shaped every day by deals, dreams, and the narratives we choose to believe.

Realism: Power and Survival Above All

Realism strips away the polite masks of politics and asks us to face the raw truth: power protects itself. This school of thought, championed by thinkers like Niccolò Machiavelli and Hans Morgenthau, sees the world as competitive, dangerous, and often unfair. It warns that states and leaders survive not by good intentions but by hard-nosed strategies.

In Nigeria, this philosophy plays out daily. Oil diplomacy is a perfect example. As Africa’s largest crude producer, Nigeria has often wielded its petroleum reserves like a bargaining chip. At COP26 in 2021, Nigeria pledged net-zero emissions by 2060, a nod to global climate demands, but quickly reminded the world that gas would remain its “transition fuel.” Why? Because abandoning fossil fuels too quickly would crush the economy and destabilize the nation. This wasn’t hypocrisy, it was realism.

The same survival instinct runs through Nigeria’s internal politics. Governors often dominate state party structures, handpicking successors to safeguard their influence. In Rivers State, an ongoing power struggle between political godfathers and their protégés illustrates how political loyalty is managed like a business deal rather than a moral crusade. At the federal level, party primaries are rarely neutral contests; they’re calculated battles to maintain control. This is why “kingmakers” can lose elections themselves yet still dictate who holds office.

Consider the fuel subsidy saga. For decades, subsidies costing over $10 billion annually (NBS, 2023) acted as a pressure valve, keeping the streets calm even when budgets were strained. When the government removed subsidies in 2023 and floated the Naira, prices skyrocketed: inflation surged to 29.9% (CBN, 2024), food inflation topped 35%, and transport fares doubled in weeks. From a realist perspective, these moves were unavoidable to stabilize long-term finances, but to the average citizen, it felt like survival-of-the-fittest economics.

Realism is also evident in Nigeria’s foreign policy. Membership in OPEC allows Nigeria to influence global oil prices but also binds it to decisions that sometimes hurt local consumers. It’s a delicate dance: protect your interests, even if others feel the pinch.

Critics argue realism can breed cynicism, excusing corruption or authoritarianism as “necessary evils.” Yet, ignoring realism’s lessons can be naïve. Nigeria’s path forward may require leaders who accept the world’s harsh realities without letting self-preservation become the only goal. As Machiavelli would remind us, “A ruler who is not both loved and feared is lost.”

Idealism: Politics of Principles and Big Promises

Idealism is the dreamer of political thought, the voice that says, “Leadership should be about doing the right thing, not just winning.” Thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Woodrow Wilson believed nations (and people) could rise above self-interest to build a fairer, more cooperative world.

In Nigeria, idealism is everywhere, especially during elections. Politicians promise free education, cheaper food, better hospitals, and an end to corruption. Remember President Buhari’s 2015 campaign? He was hailed as Mai Gaskiya, “the honest one,” with crowds of poor Nigerians donating their meager savings because they believed moral leadership could heal a wounded nation. For a while, criticizing him was almost taboo; he embodied the hope that clean hands could fix dirty politics. But when fuel prices spiked, inflation soared, and the economy faltered, that halo faded. Many Nigerians now confess they’ve grown wary of “savior” promises.

Idealism isn’t useless; it’s what fuels change. ECOWAS, West Africa’s regional bloc, was born from Nigeria’s idealist vision that neighbors could unite for peace and shared prosperity. Nigerian peacekeepers in Liberia and Sierra Leone weren’t chasing oil or territory; they were acting on the belief that stability anywhere in the region benefits everyone.

But idealism has a blind spot: it often underestimates human self-interest. In a country where political godfathers pull strings behind closed doors, lofty speeches can feel like stage props. Nigerians’ willingness to endure hardship, such as quietly accepting the 2023 subsidy removal in the hope of future reforms, demonstrates how idealistic faith can sometimes delay the urgent push for accountability.

Idealism inspires, but without pressure and follow-through, it can backfire, leaving citizens disillusioned and less likely to trust future reformers.

Constructivism: The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Constructivism flips the script; it says politics isn’t just about power or principles but about the stories we believe. Scholars like Alexander Wendt and Nicholas Onuf argue that reality in politics is built by shared ideas and social norms. Change the story, and you can change the system.

Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests showed this in action. What started as outrage over police brutality became a nationwide reckoning about leadership, youth power, and the kind of country Nigerians wanted to build. It wasn’t driven by a single political party or a big man it was a movement fueled by a shared belief that citizens deserved dignity and justice. Even global artists, tech giants, and the diaspora joined in because the story resonated.

Politicians use constructivism, too, sometimes cynically. In local campaigns, candidates present themselves as “sons of the soil,” leveraging ethnic and religious identities to win votes. At the national level, leaders frame their narratives around anti-corruption or national unity. These stories can inspire genuine pride and participation, but they can also trap voters. When people defend underperforming leaders simply because “he’s our man” or “she’s from our region,” the culture of accountability erodes.

Constructivism reveals the hidden power of culture and identity. If Nigerians collectively believe that leadership should be judged on performance, not tribe or religion, the political landscape will shift. But as long as old stories of fear, division, or helplessness dominate, progress stalls.

The lesson? The stories we choose to tell about ourselves, our leaders, and our future are as powerful as oil or budgets in shaping Nigeria’s destiny.

Conclusion

Realism reminds us to watch the power brokers, Idealism tells us never to stop dreaming of better governance, and constructivism proves that culture and narrative can rewrite history. Together, these theories reveal why Nigeria’s politics is both maddening and full of possibility.

The next time a politician promises “change” or a movement floods Twitter with a new hashtag, remember: beneath the noise are deeper forces; power, principles, and perception colliding to shape the country’s destiny. If Nigerians can demand accountability, hold onto visionary ideals, and rewrite divisive narratives, the nation’s story could shift from cycles of crisis to a future defined by unity and progress.

Nigeria’s politics isn’t a spectator sport. Understanding these theories isn’t just academic it’s a survival skill and a tool for transformation. The question is: what role will you play in the story Nigeria tells next?

*******By SB Adams

Works Cited

Achebe, Chinua. The Trouble with Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishing, 1983.

Baylis, John, Patricia Owens, and Steve Smith. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Diamond, Larry. The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World. New York: Times Books, 2008.

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. 1651.

Kant, Immanuel. Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch. 1795.

Morgenthau, Hans J. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1948.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Labour Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report. Abuja: NBS, 2023.

Nye, Joseph S. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York: PublicAffairs, 2004.

Ogundiya, I. S. “Democracy and Good Governance: Nigeria’s Dilemma.” African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, vol. 4, no. 6, 2010, pp. 201–208.

Wendt, Alexander. Social Theory of International Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

World Bank. World Development Indicators. World Bank, 2020–2024.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Inflation and Economic Indicators Report. Abuja: CBN, 2024.